Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren had the haunted look on his face of a man who has lost everything as his team slumped to a 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Magpies were looking to use the game as a perfect springboard to get behind their manager after the players had taken the unusual step of issuing a statement in support of their beleaguered boss earlier in the same day.
But despite their punchy and printed words of support, McClaren’s players did little to aid the pressure growing on his shoulders as they capitulated once again in front of the St James’ faithful, who had clearly seen enough. Loud booing and jeers met every single Cherries goal.
One thing that has been cited as a reason for the Magpies’ utterly dreadful season is their transfer dealings. Whoever is in charge at recruitment in the North East is seriously getting it wrong, signing disappointing player after disappointing player.
Here are some of the worst offenders who have done little since joining the Tynesiders in recent months.
Remy Cabella: He made just 34 appearances for Newcastle, scoring once in a year-long spell at the club between 2014/15. He signed for a sum in the region of £8m and has recently made a loan move to Marseille permanent, meaning each Toon appearance cost the club over 200k! Ouch.
Emmanuel Riviere: The forward cost the club £6m and he has scored just three times since signing in 2014, meaning each goal has come as a cost of £2m thus far. He’s barely even been around the first-team this season and is another example of a wasted transfer who has failed to make a difference in the slightest.
Florian Thauvin: The winger cost the Magpies £12m at the start of the season and only lasted until January before being shipped out on-loan to Marseille. 13 appearances and one goal is another shocking set of statistics.
In more recent months owner Mike Ashley sanctioned the signings of Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend for £12m apiece, and both of these players have so far failed to prove their worth since joining the club.
£24m is a huge amount to spend on two individuals, let alone two who have little experience of relegation scraps and getting your team back from the brink. Neither have any credible international experience and look like massive panic buys.
The fact of the matter is simple. Newcastle United have escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth for a few seasons now and their transfer shortcomings are quickly catching up with them.
As Aston Villa are quickly learning, building a team around foreign hot-shots with little knowledge of the division, culture and general style is risky. Newcastle’s attempt to foster foreign players and build them up in ‘the English way’ has completely failed.
It’s been a disaster from start to finish, and the Toon might not be so lucky this time around.
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